Javadekar launches web portals for research oriented schemes

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar Thursday launched web portals for two schemes -- IMPRESS and SPARC -- with an aim to build an ecosystem of research in educational institutions.

"A country achieves prosperity on a sustainable basis only through innovation which can happen only by good research and which is currently a major focus area of the government," Javadekar said at a press conference here.

The objective of Impactful Policy Research in Social Sciences (IMPRESS) is to identify and fund research proposals in social sciences with maximum impact on governance and society.

"It will provide an opportunity for social science researchers in any institution in the country which includes all universities (central and state) and also a few private institutions meeting the requirement," he said.

The scheme will be implemented at a total cost of Rs 414 crore till March 2021.

Under IMPRESS, 1,500 research projects will be awarded for two years to support social science research in higher educational institutions.

The Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR) will be the project implementing agency.

The scheme will focus on broad thematic areas such as state and democracy, urban transformation; media, culture and society; employment, skills and rural transformation; governance; innovation and public policy; macro-trade and economic policy and social media and technology.

Meanwhile, the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) aims at building the research ecosystem of India's higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian and foreign institutions.

"It is a scheme for promotion of academic and research collaboration. Under the scheme, we are giving Rs 418 crore for 600 joint research proposals. The idea is to stop brain drain and provide facilities so that they can do research in India," Javadekar said.

"A set of five thrust areas (Fundamental Research, Emergent Areas of Impact, Convergence, Action-Oriented Research and Innovation-Driven) and sub-theme areas in each thrust area has been identified for collaboration under SPARC based on emergent relevance and importance for the nation," the Union minister added.

IIT-Khargapur is the national coordinating institute to implement the SPARC programme.

The research work under both the schemes will start from January next year, the minister said.